Tradition and renewal
Mihály Vargha, director of the Sekler National Museum
MúzeumCafé 9.
Sculptor Mihály Vargha heads the Sekler National Museum in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania. “The museum has natural history, archaeology and ethnography collections, as well as a library. It manages the Gyárfás Jenő fine arts gallery, the Museum of Woodland in Baraolt, the Haszmann Pál Museum in Cernat, the Museum of Guild History in Târgu Secuiesc and the Csango Ethnographic Museum in Zăbala. The items compiled during its 130-year history are very impressive. The Late Bronze Age collection can be highlighted; some of its items have recently been exhibited in Switzerland and the Vatican. The fungi collection is also prominent internationally. The art collection comprises nearly 2000 works, including paintings by Jenő Gyárfás, Miklós Barabás and János Mattis-Teutsch. “I’m pleased that full restoration of the building designed by Károly Kós is soon to begin. In a few years the whole complex from cellar to tower will be renewed in the scope of a regional programme backed by EU finance. It will enable new, state-of-the-art exhibition areas to be developed. “We have redeemed a nearly hundred year old debt to Kós by making and placing the mosaic coat of arms of the Sekler National Museum on the façade in line with his preserved design. “Since my appointment the museum has employed a PR expert, museum education has received an impetus and an increasing number of events are held for young people. The permanent exhibition also requires some additions. Visitors can learn a lot from the displayed objects yet there is no answer to the most important question – who are the Seklers? “An example of change … if an institution has no website – as this one didn’t when I was appointed – it must be created as soon as possible whether the director is an archaeologist or an artist.”